What they don’t tell you about making a pivot
Are you in the process of making a career pivot?
Many of my coaching conversations focus on a change someone’s thinking about or actively trying to make in their career.
Some are doing it because they have something they’re moving away from…an industry they no longer appreciate, a company that looks different than the one they joined, a role that doesn’t feel like a fit anymore.
Others are doing it because they have something they’re moving towards…a mission they’re passionate about, a role they’ve always wanted to take on, a lifestyle they want that better fits their current season.
But whether they’re moving towards or moving away, there’s one thing they all have in common.
They need to let go of their past identity in order to move into a new one.
While some find ease in this, many find it to be a bigger ask than they ever realized.
They’re still talking about themselves as rooted in their current identities…”I am a…” or “my background is…”
As they’re moving out of that season, the language may change, but it’s still a large part of their narrative…they describe themselves as a “former”, “ex-” or “recovering” fill-in-the-blank.
It takes a while for them to fully own their new identity, their new focus, their new passion.
Do you see yourself in this?
A few things that have helped my clients are:
Practice. Create a sentence or two that you can practice over and over until it becomes completely natural to answer the question “what do you do?” with your new identity. You likely had years to get comfortable with your previous identity, a little practice can accelerate your comfort with your new one.
Look for the evidence. When you’re telling your story, frame how you talk about your past experience in light of your new focus. When you see how the threads of your past naturally weave together into what you’re doing now, it’s easier to lean into the new and shed the old.
Find gratitude. Finding ways to appreciate your past experience can make it easier to step fully into the new chapter. Perhaps you’re grateful for learning what not to do, the connections you’ve made, or how the experience gives you empathy and understanding that you’re leveraging in your new chapter.
If you’re making (or have made) a change of your own, what have you found helpful in shedding your past identity?
August 6, 2026
About the author:
Christina Von Stroh is a leadership coach who helps her clients become wildly successful by applying iterative software development practices to achieve their dreams. Want to work with Christina to help you iterate towards the person you’re becoming?
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